Health and Wellness

IMMUNIZATIONS & HEALTH REQUIREMENTS

Immunizations

Each year, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment issues its updated immunization requirements for any child attending school. Immunizations are used to protect children from once-common highly infectious diseases. The requirements for the 2016-17 school year are made based on the Advisory Committee Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations. 

Immunizations may be obtained from your doctor's office or the Atchison County Health Department (for children with KanCare Insurance or who do not have medical insurance). The Health Department is located at 616 Commercial Street, Atchison KS, 913.367.5152. Please take your child's immunization records with you to your appointment. Copies of updated immunization records must be turned into your child's school. 

The complete ACIP recommendations can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/acip-recs/vacc-specific/index.html. For more information about immunization requirements, please contact your school nurse. 

In certain cases, exemptions to vaccination are allowed. These include:

  • Chickenpox: If your child has had the disease, please provide written documentation of the date from your physician.
  • Religious Exemptions: Please provide a written statement with signature and date if you are a member of a religious denomination whose teachings are opposed to such immunizations.
  • Medical Exemptions: Please provide a yearly written statement from your physician indicating the immunizations that your child cannot receive. KS Medical Exemption Form

Health Assessments & Physical

Kansas law (KSA 72-5214) requires that all students up to the age of nine (9) must provide the school with the results of a health assessment dated within the last 12 months if they are enrolling in a Kansas school for the first time. This assessment may be performed by a public health department nurse or family physician.

First time entry includes students enrolling in preschool, or students enrolling in kindergarten who did not have a health assessment prior to attending a Kansas preschool, and any student up to age nine (9) who is entering a Kansas school for the first time.

A physical is recommended but not required for all students enrolling in Atchison Middle School.

All students participating in activities covered by appropriate KSHSAA rules shall provide a physical exam (dated after May 1, 2016) to the school activities director. Health Department nurses may not perform KSHSAA physicals. For more information about health assessments and physicals, please contact your school nurse. 

ImPACT Testing
Students participating in middle and high school athletics are required to complete an ImPACT Test. ImPACT Testing will assist team physicians/athletic trainers in evaluating and treating head injuries (e.g., concussions). ImPACT is a computerized exam utilized in many professional, collegiate, and high school sports programs across the country to successfully diagnose and manage concussions. If a student athlete is believed to have suffered a head injury during competition, ImPACT is used to help determine the severity of head injury and when the injury is fully healed. 

For more information about ImPACT Testing and the locations and times testing will take place, please contact George Ross, Activities Director/Assistant Principal at Atchison Middle School or Matt Renk, Activities Director/Assistant Principal at Atchison High School. 

U.S.D. 409 MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION FORMS

Parents are asked not send medication to school if it can be given before or after school hours. 

  1. All medication must be in the original container and accompanied by written instructions from parent including dose, time and dates of administration at school, and reason for medication.
  2. Prescription medication will be administered according to the directions of the pharmacy label. Any change in dose or administration must be accompanied by a new pharmacy label or a written or faxed order from the prescribing physician.
  3. Prescription refills should be sent in prescription containers with the most recent refill date on the label.

School Nurses

Mrs. Carol Smith RN, BSN. Serving Atchison Elementary School (913.367.1161) Monday through Friday.

Janelle Carrigan RN, BSN. Serving Atchison High School (913.367.4162), Atchison Middle School (913.367.5363), and Central School (913.360.6540). Call the individual school for her schedule.

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